UNC likely to move on from head coach Hubert Davis: reports

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WGHP) -- Change could be on the horizon at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when it comes to the men's basketball program. Reports cast doubt on Davis' future Following UNC's disappointing loss to VCU in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, where the Tar Heels gave up a 19-point lead in the second half before losing in overtime, many fans' attention shifted toward the future of the team's head coach, Hubert Davis. Inside Carolina's Greg Barnes reported on Friday that "sources close to the situation now believe that a coaching change will likely be made in the days ahead." ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Saturday that UNC officials are "in discussions" with Davis about his future and that a "potential exit plan" is expected to take place. Hubert Davis era in review Davis just completed his fifth year as the Tar Heels' head coach and his tenure in Chapel Hill has seen a variety of peaks and valleys. Davis took over as the hand-picked successor of Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams in 2021 and got off to a slow start in his first year before going on a historic run that included two of the greatest victories in program history against the rival Duke Blue Devils. The Tar Heels ended the 2021-2022 regular season on a five-game winning streak, which included a dominant road win against their Duke Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski's final home game. UNC would go on to get a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament and make a run to the Final Four, where they once again beat Duke in what would be Krzyzewski's final game as Duke's coach in the rivals' first-ever NCAA Tournament matchup. The Davis era at UNC arguably peaked during this time as the Tar Heels then raced to a 40-25 lead in the National Championship Game against Kansas and looked primed to cap off a dream season with a title. However, UNC would surrender that halftime lead and ultimately lose to Kansas 69-72. In line with the inconsistent nature of Davis' tenure at UNC, the following season was arguably the lowest point of the Davis era. The Tar Heels entered the 2022-2023 season as the preseason No. 1 and one of the favorites to win the National Championship following their dominant end to the previous season. Instead, Carolina fell far short of those expectations, going 20-13 and becoming the first preseason No. 1 to ever miss the NCAA Tournament altogether. The Davis era hit another peak in the 2023-2024 season as UNC bounced back with a 29-8 record as well as an ACC Regular Season Championship that earned them a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The year had a disappointing finish, however, as the Tar Heels were upset by NC State in the ACC Championship Game and then lost in the Sweet 16 to No. 4 seed Alabama. The rollercoaster continued in the 2024-25 season. The Tar Heels barely limped into the NCAA Tournament as the "last team in" for that year's Field of 68. UNC won its contest in the First Four before losing to Ole Miss in the First Round. UNC also lost all three of its games to Duke. Most recently, 2025-26 was a mixed bag of all aspects of the Davis era. UNC spent every week of the season as a ranked team. However, they never broke into the top 10 of the rankings, and they ended the year on a three-game losing streak that included a loss in their first ACC Tournament game and the aforementioned loss to VCU in the First Round. The season saw highs such as wins over blue bloods like Kansas, Kentucky and Duke, but also lows that included an embarrassing 34-point loss to NC State and back-to-back losses to Stanford and Cal on a West Coast road trip. What's next? According to Inside Carolina's reporting, support for Davis among key figures in the program has "cratered." The concerns are to the point that the ability to fundraise for the 2026-27 roster would come into question if Davis were to retain his position. Multiple reports suggest that, due to Davis' stature as a former player and longtime assistant at UNC, his potential exit would be coordinated rather than an outright firing. Latest North Carolina News on MyFOX8.com View all NC news " If Davis were to be let go, Inside Carolina reports that UNC would target "an established head coach with a strong track record" and would likely hire a coach without an immediate connection to the program for the first time since Dean Smith. It is also a time of change at the top levels of the Carolina athletic department, as former NASCAR executive Steve Newmark is set to take over as UNC's athletic director in the summer. Current AD Bubba Cunningham is moving into an advisory role. Time will be of the essence for the Tar Heels as the transfer portal window will open up the day after the National Championship Game on April 7. Incoming recruits will likely want clarity on UNC's coaching situation before committing to the school.